Chapter 34: Armageddon

Robles

"It can talk!" Kumi gasped in surprise.

"Shutup and shoot it!" Siler yelled, aiming his rifle.

Before Kumi and Siler even had a chance to blink, the creature, it resembled a reanimated Elite, suddenly materialized right between them. It swung its massive arms out, catching each Marine by surprise. For a split second, Kumi saw Siler hit the wall and go limp, and second after that, she found herself sprawled on the street outside.

Unknown

Chaos smiled as he viewed the progress of his newest lieutenant. Though the humans were numerous in number, they lacked the kind of physical superiority Elites had, which why he favored those forms more. It was difficult finding any intact body of an Elite, but fortunately, he was able to find several bodies in the forest with enough biomass to reanimate and rebuild. He now had a dozen lieutenants leading his forces through the town. He wondered, however, why Armageddon was attacking an area he had specifically barred his minions from going near. He didn't want to risk having his plan derailed.

Robles

"I think we lost him!" Mann said, keeping a lookout to the rear.

"Good, he was starting to get on my nerves." Paccone muttered. "Stitches just never stops."

"We're coming up to the radio station." Leo said. "We should be able to hold out with the fresh equipment we've- oh my god!"

Leo slammed the brakes, bringing the Warthog to a screeching halt. Before Paccone even had a chance to yell at Leo about what the hell he was doing, Leo jumped out of the Warthog to check Kumi's limp body lying on the pavement.

"Shit," Leo muttered as he checked Kumi's pulse. He sighed in relief when he found that she was still alive, but she was out cold. Then he suddenly remembered that Kumi was supposed to be guarding Sam, and Leo froze in momentary terror.

"Sarge! We gotta go! The others are in trouble!"

Radio Station

Armageddon slowly made his way forward. He caught sight of a small human girl on the far side of the room. He gave a menacing glare, and was pleased to see her squeal in fright. He didn't make any move toward her, however. She was of no threat to him. Armageddon kept his attention focused on the female human lying against the wall. He failed to see what that fool Chaos had seen in this human, but he was determined to find out and use it for himself. He advanced toward his target, ready to grab her and escape this wretched building.

Sam could do nothing but watch the thing come closer toward her. It was not as if it was going to make any difference. Whether or not that thing killed her, she was still going to become one of them. One of those sick, twisted caricatures of human beings, that did nothing more than kill anything they could and devour it. However, something inside her, almost like a voice, urged her to fight with everything she had.

Do not give up so easily!

"Why should I try, even when I know that I will lose?"

Who are you to judge what can and will happen?

"So, what? Are you trying to help me or something?"

I cannot help you if you cannot help yourself!

"So what do you suggest I do?"

Fight it! Deny it the right to take your body and soul!

"Why?"

What would your sister think of you? What do you think she would do in this situation?

Armageddon barely flinched when the 7.62 mm round pierced his chest, but we was nonetheless surprised that this girl would even have the will to fight back. Perhaps Chaos did see something in this human after all. He continued moving forward, shrugging off the other rounds slamming into his body and armor.

'Somebody help her!" Collette shrieked.

Leo heard Collette's cry as he ran through the halls. He checked his rifle to make sure it was loaded. As he rounded the last corner however, he was blinded by a flash of light.

Unknown

Chaos shook his head as he saw the events progressing. Armageddon had made his move far too quickly and crudely. All he had accomplished was to warn Chaos' enemies about what was going on, and that Chaos may have made his lieutenants a little too independent. He decided to cease surveillance on this particular little band of humans for the moment. His flesh composite creature had not responded to his queries for quite some time. He was afraid that his indestructible creation had finally taken one too many rockets.

Robles

Sam blinked in surprise as she looked at the pile of smoking ashes in front of her. She didn't really catch what had happened, though she was glad the monster was gone. Oddly enough, the strange voice in her head had disappeared as well.

Collette poked her head out, seeing that Armageddon was gone.

"Is it over?" She asked.

"Yeah." Sam smiled, "It's over."

"Sam!"

Sam looked up and saw Leo, somewhat bewildered at what happened. Siler groaned in pain as he picked himself up, while Mann and Paccone came in carrying Kumi, who was still out cold.

"Now what in the hell happened here?" Paccone asked.

Omega

"Alright," Karla said as Williams and Tarin set down the nuke. "We need two senior officers to arm to the warhead. That means me and Tarin will have to enter all the clearance and arming codes, and that you and Holy will have to watch our backs."

"Me?" Williams asked, glancing nervously at the Elite.

"Yeah, you, unless you happen to be in command." Tarin said.

"Do you have some sort of issue with me?" Holy asked.

"No, nothing at all…" Williams said weakly.

Karla smiled, "Well, you two have plenty of time to get acquainted with each other." And with that, she pulled out an elaborate keychain and red codebook.

"Alright, lets arm this baby."